“Take the pictures, darling,” I say, running a soothing hand over his shoulders.
Outside, the sound of a car pulling up has the boys running to the door.
“It’s Ryan!” cries Thane in excitement. He throws open the door and races out.
Cassidy rushes after them, forgetting both of her parents in her haste to get to her boyfriend before her brothers do.
“You sure I can’t punch him in the nose before they leave? Kind of as a pre-dance warning?” Nick asks, taking his place beside me. He snakes his arm around my back and I lean into him, grateful for his support.
“No, not even a friendly tap.”
“You’re no fun.”
“You didn’t say that nine months ago,” I tease, as I watch Ryan climb the steps. He high-fives the boys before stumbling to a halt.
“I was too busy sticking my tongue in your pu—uff!“
I elbow him hard in the stomach. “Pay attention. Your daughter is slaying a man right before your eyes.”
“C-C-Cassidy,” Ryan stammers. “You look beautiful.”
Cassidy ducks her head. “Thank you. You look amazing, too.”
The two stare at each other for a long moment until Gray makes a gagging noise. The teens break eye contact and start chattering with the boys. My soul swells so big at the sight of my children talking together that I nearly expire.
Nick’s fingers curl around my waist. “Do we have to let her go?” he whispers. “She’s so young.”
“Today prom. Tomorrow college.” I stroke a hand over the top of my stomach. “But we’re always going to be a family. No matter how many dances she goes to, or how many boys come and sweep her away. No matter what, she’ll always be ours.”
His hand slides over to join mine.
“Ours,” he echoes.
It was a word I hadn’t thought I’d ever use in connection with Nick Jackson, but it’s the one that describes us best. We’re a unit—strong, indestructible, and everlasting. It’s a state of bliss that I hadn’t imagined that I deserved, yet, here I am married to the best man in the world with the best kids in the world.
At the age of twenty, I’d made enough mistakes for a lifetime, but somehow, those mistakes all lead me to this moment and this life and this family.
Ours, indeed.
Did you know I wrote Charlotte and Nate’s story? It’s called the Charlotte Chronicles and it’s a beautiful romance. Check it out for free with your Kindle Unlimited subscription or own it for 99c!
You can also read the parents’ love story in Undeclared (Noah and Grace) and Unspoken (Bo and AnneMarie).
And if you like football books, then I’ve got four college ones you’re going to love. Start with Sacked!
Also by Jen Frederick
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Sacked
Jock blocked
Downed
Played
Undeclared (Woodlands #1)
Undressed (Woodlands #1.5)
Unspoken (Woodlands #2)
Unraveled (Woodlands #3)
Unrequited (Woodlands #4)
Unwritten (Woodlands #5)
Losing Control (Kerr Chronicles #1)
Taking Control (Kerr Chronicles #2)
Revealed to Him
Last Hit (Hitman #1)
Last Breath (Hitman #2)
Last Hit: Reloaded (Hitman #2.5)
Last Kiss (Hitman #3)
Last Hope (Hitman #4)
Charlotte Chronicles
By Jen Frederick
Available Now
Undeclared
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson—or any man—ever going to break her heart again.
Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way—literally—through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.
Unspoken
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.
I’ve been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?
He’s everything I shouldn’t want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren’t the danger to me, though, it’s his charm. He’s sliding his way into my heart and I’m afraid that he’s going to be the one to break me.
Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.
I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I’ll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I’ve got fighting and I’ve got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.
She’s everything I didn’t realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she’s been hurt too much in the past and I don’t want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can’t.
Unraveled
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.
Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?
Undressed
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
Noah and Grace’s happy ever after hits a stumbling block in the form of one shady professor threatening Noah’s scholarship eligibility. Noah is given the choice of throwing his New Year’s MMA fight for a big payoff or accepting that the true meaning of love isn’t measured by the thickness of his wallet but the depth of Grace’s big heart.
Unrequited
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
Winter Donovan loves two things: her sister and her sister's ex boyfriend. She's spent her whole life doing the right thing except that one time, that night when Finn O'Malley looked hollowed out by his father's death. Then she did something very wrong that felt terribly right.
Finn can't stop thinking about Winter and the night and he'll do anything to make her a permanent part of his life, even if it means separating Winter from the only family she has.
Their love was supposed to be unrequited but one grief stricken guy and one girl with too big of a heart results in disastrous consequences.
#GetSacked
&
nbsp; by Jen Frederick
Available Now
What he wants he gets...
Knox Masters is a quarterback's worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And...virgin. Knox knows what he wants--and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he's set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she's the sister of his fellow teammate, but that's not going to stop him. Especially not when he’s convinced Ellie is the one.
...but he's never met her before.
But Ellie isn't as sure. She's trying to start a new life and she's not interested in a relationship...with anyone. Beside it's not just her cardinal rule of never dating her brother's teammates that keeps her away, but Ellie has a dark secret that would jeopardize everything Knox is pursuing.
Knox has no intention of losing. Ellie has no intention of giving in.
#GetJockblocked
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
She’s always played it safe…
College junior Lucy Washington abides by one rule—avoid risk at all costs. She’s cautious in every aspect of her life, from her health, to her mock trial team, to the boring guys she dates. When a brash, gorgeous jock walks into the campus coffeeshop and turns his flirt on, Lucy is stunned by the force of attraction. For the first time ever, she’s willing to step out of her comfort zone, but can she really trust the guy who’s determined to sweep her off her feet?
He’s always played around…
Entering his last year of college eligibility, linebacker Matthew "Matty" Iverson has the team captaincy in his sights. And it’s his for the taking, if he can convince his quarterback Ace Anderson to give up the starting position. Luckily, Matty already has an edge—the hottie he’s lusting over just happens to be Ace’s childhood best friend. Getting Lucy on his side and in his bed? Hell yeah. Matty is more than confident he can have both, but when he falls hard for Lucy, it’s time for a new game plan: convince the woman of his dreams that she’s not sleeping with the enemy.
#GetDowned
by Jen Frederick
Available Now
He’s the guy no one likes…
Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.
She’s the girl everyone loves…
Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.
Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.
THE CHARLOTTE CHRONICLES
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 Jen Frederick
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduce in any fashion without the express, written consent of the copyright holder.
PEAR TREE LLC
[email protected]
Cover Design by Meljean Brook
Photo by Sara Eirew
www.jenfrederick.com
Created with Vellum
About the Author
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line!
Contact Me:
jenfrederick.com
[email protected]
Be Mine Page 20
